Suspects are lined up against a wall as a member of the South African Police Service (SAPS) wearing gloves arrests them because they defied the lockdown order during an operation in the Johannesburg. AFP Photo

Johannesburg: South Africa on Friday reported its first two deaths from the novel coronavirus outbreak as the number of confirmed cases breached the 1,000 mark, the government said.

"This morning we wake South Africans up with sad news that we now have our first deaths resulting from COVID-19," the health ministry said in a statement.